Device for producing novelty patterns



y 1962 J. c. CUNDlFF 3,036,448

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING NOVELTY PATTERNS Filed Aug. 17, 1959 E SheetS-Sheet 1 INVENTORS dose-PH C. cU/VD/FF ATTORNEYS May 29, 1962 J. c. CUNDIFF DEVICE FOR PRODUCING NOVELTY PATTERNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1959 V Jess/w C. CUND/l-F wmwwmw May 29, 1962 .1. c. CUNDIFF 3,036,448

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING NOVELTY PATTERNS Filed Aug. 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JosE/w C Came/FF WIQMQ MMD.

ATTORNEYS Filed Aug. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 834,270 3 Claims. 01. 6686) This invention relates to warp knitting machines such as high speed tricot machines, and more particularly to knitting machines having a top warp yarn supply and a bottom warp yarn supply.

In particular the invention relates to a device for producing novelty patterns in the fabric knitted by the machine by varying the tension of selected top warp yarns at selected intervals during the knitting process.

In tricot knitting machines and the like, a plurality of or sheet of yarns is withdrawn from top and bottom warp supply beams and fed along predetermined paths over normally stationary yarn tensioning tubes to the knitting needles and sinkers. The present invention provides a device which may be interposed between the top warp supply beam and its associated tensioning tube, so that varying degrees of tension may be applied to preselected strands or groups of strands of the top warp in order to produce novel patterns in the knitted fabric.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device which may be employed in combination with a warp knitting machine, such as a high speed tricot machine, to produce a wavy pattern-like effect in the knitted goods.

Another object of the invention is to provide means adapted to produce a pattern effect in warp knitted goods, wherein the pattern imparted may be readily and quickly varied or changed. 4

A further object is to provide an oscillating yarn tensioning rod for varying the tension of preselected strands or groups of strands of the top warp of a double guidebar tricot knitting machine, so as to produce novel effects and patterns in the material being knitted thereby. Further objects will be in part evident and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the operation and principle of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of an exemplary device in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the yarn ten sioning device, as viewed from the left of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of the yarn tensioning rod, showing the warp yarns leased thereover.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of an actuating cam useful in the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of an alternative cam which may be used.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of an additional form of cam, and

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, illustrating a special segmental cam which may be employed.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 represents a tricot knitting machine of the double warp type, to which the present invention has been applied. The knitting machine is provided with the top warp yarn supply 10 and the bottom warp yarn supply 12. The warp yarns 14 are fed from the yarn supplies over the usual yarn tension tubes 16, and therefrom through yarn guides 18 to the needles 20, which cooperate with the sinkers 22 and presser member 24 in the usual manner to knit fabric.

States Patent 9 The device of the present invention, indicated generally as 26, is interposed between the top warp yarn supply 10 and the associated yarn tension tube 16.

The device '26 includes a shaft 28 from which arms 30 extend radially, the arms 30 supporting at their outer ends a warp yarn tensioning rod 32 disposed adjacent the path of the yarn threads 14 extending from the top warp yarn supply 10. As shown in FIGURE 4, the yarn threads 14 may be leased about the rod in any predetermined manner, such as 4 under, 4 over or the like, and it will be understood that the leasing may be varied in accordance with any desired combination, in order to produce varying pattern effects. A crank arm 34 extends from one end of the shaft 28 into cooperative relationship with a cam 36. As the cam rotates, in a manner described below, the crank arm 34 cooperating therewith causes the shaft 28 to oscillate, and this oscillating movement is transmitted by the arms 30 to the tensioning rod 32. Oscillation of the rod 32 moves the warp strands or groups of strands leased thereover out of the normal feed path to the tension tube 16, whereby the tension of individual strands or groups of strands is periodically and variably altered in accordance with a predetermined sequence or pattern. The variance in the tension of threads on the top warp yarn as it passes into the knitting elements of the machine produces a wavy or patternlike effect in the knitted fabric.

In detail, referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, the device is secured to the frame of a tricot knitting machine 40 by the vertical supports 42 secured thereto in any suitable manner. A supporting plate 44 upon which drive elements are mounted is secured to support 42 and extends horizontally outwardly from the knitting machine frame. Disposed upon the plate 44 is a transmission unit 46 connected by a shaft 48 to a speed varying device 50. The speedvarying device 50 is driven by means of the chain 52 engaging the sprocket 54 thereof, and the sprocket 56 supported by the shaft 58 and bearings 60 mounted on the plate 44. Also secured to the shaft 58 are sprockets 62 and 65. The sprocket 62 is driven by the chain 66 which is in turn driven from the main camshaft (not shown) of the tricot knitting machine, and causes the shaft 58 and the sprockets secured thereto to rotate at a speed coordinated with the machine drive.

Located above the aforementioned elements and secured to the vertical support 42 is a horizontally extending support plate 62upon which is mounted a second speed varying device 64. The speed varying device 64 is driven by shaft '58, by means of the sprocket and shaft 67 which are caused to rotate by the chain 68 driven by the sprocket secured to the shaft 58. The output shaft 70, by means of the chain and sprocket 72, causes the top warp supply beam 10 to rotate in order to feed the top warp threads 14 during the knitting process. The output speed of the shaft 70 may be varied to vary the rate of feed of the yarn by adjusting the control lever 74 of the transmission device 64.

The lower transmission unit 46, which is driven by the shaft 48 of the lower speed varying device 50 is provided with an output shaft 76 to which is removably secured at one end thereof the actuating cam 36. The actuating cam 36 cooperates with crank arm 34 which is secured to one end of the shaft 28 of the tensioning device. Shaft 28 is journalled in the vertical support 42 and has radially extending arms 30 fastened thereto, with the arms 30 supporting the thread tensioning rod 32 between their outer ends. The crank arm 34 is spring biased against the face of the cam 36 by means of the coil spring 78, which is fastened at one end to the support 42, as by the pin 80, and is likewise secured to the crank arm 34, as by the pin 82. The free end of the crank arm 34 is provided with a cam following roller 84 which rides the face of the cam 36, so that as the cam rotates the crank arm 34 is caused to oscillate in response to the cam surface causing the shift 28 to oscillate which in turn transmits an oscillating motion, through the arms 30, to the thread tensioning rod 32. The speed of rotation of the cam may be varied by moving the control lever 86 of the lower speed varying device 50,

in order to change the relative frequency of oscillation of the tensioning rod 32. The crank arm 34 may be adjustable so that it may assume either of the two positions shown in FIGURE 2, relative to the cam.

FIGURES 5 through 7 disclose various shapes of simple cams, 36a, 36b and 36c which may be employed to oscillate the tensioning rod 62. FIGURE 8 discloses a segmental type cam in which the cam segments 88 may be disposed at varying positions about the cam wheel 90, and replaced by segments of different shape. As will be understood, the frequency and amplitude of the tensioning rod oscillation may be readily varied by changing the cam 36, or by changing the number and/ or type of segments 88 in the cam wheel 90.

In operation, the device obtains its driving motion from the main camshaft of the knitting machine through the chain 66, which drives the sprocket 62 and shaft 58 and thereby the upper and lower speed varying devices. The top warp 14 is fed thereby at a predetermined and adjustable rate, and the tensioning device 26 is oscillated similarly at a predetermined and adjustable rate, whereby the tension on individual strands or groups of strands of the top warp is intermittently varied.

As will be understood, an infinite variety of patterns may be imparted to the fabric being knitted. Initially, a factor of variance may be introduced by selection of the lease pattern of the top warp threads over the tensioning rod 32. As previously indicated, another factor of vari: ance is introduced by choice of the cam 36, and the pattern frequency may be readily varied by adjustment of the control lever 86, whereby the relative speed of the cam is controlled. Additionally, the tensioning rod may be arranged to periodically elevate the overlying yarns, or its strokeimay be such as to periodically elevate the overlying yarns and periodically depress the underlying yarns as well.

Various other expedients may be utilized to further vary the unusual and unique eifects achieved. For example, the warp strands may be of different size or type. It is to be noted that usually the heavier the yarn, the more clearly defined will be the impression created in the knitted fabric byvariation of the yarn tension.

The device of the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with the top warp only, this being most easily applied to high speed tricot knitting machines. It will be recognized, however, that the invention may be applied to the bottom warp only, or in such cases to both warps. In the embodiment illustrated, the bottom warp is fed to the yarn guides in the customary manner, the lower warp supply beam being either gear driven or controlled by a conventional brake letoff.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a structure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a warp knitting machine having "a top warp yarn supply and a bottom warp yarn sup ply, a variable tensioning device for said top warp yarn, said tension-ing device being mounted upon the frame of said warp yarn knitting machine and cooperating with said top warp yarn supply, said tensioning device including a shaft, arms secured to said shaft, a top warp yarn tensioning rod carried by said arms with the warp yarns leased about the rod, a crank arm secured to one end of said shaft, a cam cooperating with said crank arm, common drive means for said top warp yarn supply and said cam to feed said top warp yarn and to drive said cam to oscillate said crank arm and thereby said shaft and said top warp yarn ten-sioning rod across the path of said top warp yarn to vary the tension of said top warp yarn to produce novelty patterns in the knitted fabric, and means to vary the speed of said cam drive with respect to the top warp yarn drive to vary the novelty patterns produced.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to vary the speed of said cam drive with respect to the top warp yarn drive is a variable speed transmission in the drive to said earn.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam means is removable and replaceable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,078,050 

